My bullet Journal - As well as using the nano site, i like to keep a record of my word count with the rest of my notes. It also has quite a few moodboards and song recs in it so it’s a one-stop-shop for inspiration.

Coffee - I drink far too much considering I do most of my writing between 7pm and 3am but it keeps me going! Also November is prime time for Christmas flavours!

Spotify - Another life saver as I live in a very loud household (which is also why I write in the middle of the night lol)

My writing buddies on both the site and Discord - I have a few friends from past camp nanowrimos that I try to check in with during November to see if they’re writing, and of course I tendd to lurk around the forums too Feel free to add me as a buddy if you want!

1 - My computer or iPad if I go write at the local cafe2 - Tea, lots of tea with a side of pumpkin spice matcha latte too.3 - Veggies snacks with spinach dip.4 - And old pen I can chew on when I need to think.5 - My playlist. I can write without it.6 - My Discord buddies. They’re the best to bounce ideas to.

Scrivener. I recently migrated all of my WIPs over after buying a licence (my reward for winning Camp in July), and have been spending the last month and a half learning all its ins and outs. This year’s NaNovel will be the first project I’ll be writing in it from start to finish.

Spotify, for listening to my NaNo playlist.

Snacks. Lots of snacks.

My meds - antidepressants for depression and anxiety, beta blockers for migraines, and my allergy meds for hayfever (NaNo is in spring here so my allergies go haywire - I’d rather not be sneezing all over my laptop).

I love getting the chance to see everyone’s NaNo Survival items! Having only attempted NaNo once before, it definitely helps me consider things I hadn’t thought of adding before!

My laptop, with Scrivener. I’ve drafted 2 projects using it, and I love it! Plus, internet isn’t always something I have access to, so this lets me work around that.

A USB flash drive. For backing up my work!

My outline. 6k-10k words of where my story is going and a few possible routes to the end. Without this, I won’t even finish the novel.

Headphones, Spotify, and Youtube. Music, podcasts, or background videos are a must for me. I like listening to a novel-specific playlist, true crime podcasts, Drawfee youtube videos, or writing vlogs (I’m in love with Kate Cavanaugh atm).

Coffee/Hot Chocolate. Or lemon and honey tea if I’m sick.

Crunchy veggie snacks and some kind of dip. Usually red bell peppers and ranch dressing.

My violin or my voice. Playing/singing songs is the way I relax and deal with stress.

Sleep. The most important thing on this list, since I’m a college student with a full courseload. School comes first, and I need to sleep to do well in my classes!

My Bullet Journal I guess? It’s my first few months using it, but I can’t wait to create a bunch of new spreads for NaNo especially!

My DIscord NaNo Rainbow group! A must have! I’ve made so many friends in this group, it’s full of like-minded people who all enjoy writing, being LGBT on top of that is just one more thing we all have in common!

Hello Fresh This is one of those food bags that deliver recipes and ingredients on a Sunday for the rest of the week. This cuts out big, long grocery shops, and makes dinner and evenings faster and more streamlined.

The NaNo forums, of course! A must have for me, they help keep me motivated, and give me somewhere to vent when writing becomes just too much!

Youtube and spotify Especially those ASMR videos of the Harry Potter common rooms. They’re so cozy! Plus, gotta have that novel specific playlist, c’mon now.

EDIT:

Can’t forget Blank postcards to make into handmade calligraphied ones for the postcard swap!

YASSSS! The Survival Kit is my FAVORITE thread, and, while it is still too early for me to start getting my personal survival kit together, it is not too early for me to begin following this thread and “liking” (thank you, new forums!) all the survival kits I find particularly inspirational!

Good luck on your first Nano! I love your Survival Kit. My favorite items are the reading material (always forget to add that) and homemade Chex mix. I’ve never homemade it, my my husband has a student who gives theirs to all the teachers for Christmas every year, and I’m OBSESSED.

My Acer - Awesome 4yo (soon to be 5!) computer that does it all. It is getting up there in age though and is becoming crankier every day I boot it on. It may be his last Nano

My Nano Bullet Journal - funny thing, I’m a hobonichi girl. I can only journal in that wonderful creation that is a hobonichi. For Nano? Bujo all the way. I keep my trackers, my inspiration, my quotes and my social media planning is in there!

Headphones. I realized that I prefer them on even when I’m not listening to music. The music isn’t the necessary part, the headphones are. It makes me feel like a tool, but hey, writing goes better, so whatever.

Health. Nothing beats enough water and sleep to keep going, friends. Caffeine is not a substitute for proper hydration and sleep. Yes, I will fight you over this. It’s for your own good.

Seconding the clean house. Need my stuff to be in order so my thoughts are also in order.

3+ ‘Pilot precise V5 RT Pens’ because it’s the only pen that can actually keep up with me.

Scrivener which will constantly be backed up on Docs so I can work from my phone if needed.

Tea and Hot Cocoa I don’t drink coffee because I have a pretty strong paradoxical response.

Sock Slippers because they make me feel safe. And also warm. Even if im wearing shorts when it’s deep winter.

A Lot of Naps and Laying on the Ground with my Eyes Closed It’s the best way for me to reset my brain, and the only way to generate a scene that is actually logically consistant and emotionally resonant.